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Hi all, I know there's a few of you with some experience of these units already but I thought I'd share my video. Interested to hear your feedback. It was interesting to read that most of my audience that commented preferred the Twinstar 1200, or even Kessil A360we Tuna Sun. One thing I did...

I have 2x Kessil A360we Tuna Sun over my 120x60x45H cm. 50% intensity, 50% colour. 35cm from water surface. 8 hour photoperiod. PAR is approx 50 at substrate so able to grow anything with good CO2, circulation etc.

I have one of these and it's one of the most impressive little set-ups I've ever run. The PAR is about 50 at the substrate, so plenty for any plants. I inject CO2 24/7 using Tropica 3-in-1 diffuser at 1 bubble every 3 seconds. Tropica Soil (3 litres powder), Tropica Specialised at 1 pump per...

Yes, so many LED suitable for planted now. It's a buyers market. I've used TMC with good results over a 60cm. George's TMC Signature

Nice unit but overkill over a planted 60cm IMO. Obviously there's the controllablilty though, so if you don't mind spending the extra then it's good option. Personally I find the intense glitter lines a little off-putting but that's a matter of taste.

Which Radion model? There's quite a few now.

Nice bit of kit. I reviewed it for PFK. A little over-emphasis on blue (default) for my taste but it is adjustable to bring out more red. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=6599

Ian Holdich used two over an 80cm I believe - and with great results. I've long term success with 1500 tiles, which use the same LEDs; just more of them.

Nice, Have you experience of both units, or know how they differ? Please avoid terms like "idiot" on UKAPS. It is rude.

Interesting point. But think how boring the hobby would be without choice.

Post above from foxfish, from duplicate thread.

I saw this unit at the TMC stand at Aqua 2013. Definitely more appropriate for a reef due to the number of blue LEDs, but a very impressive piece of kit. Here's a photo I took of their display. It will be interesting to see if a freshwater version is released, as the controllability is...

Total overkill.

I tend to agree with that from my own PAR readings in and out of water.

I think that's called "delayed gratification". Feel free to post photos on UKAPS, even though it's reef.

Short answer - yes! :) You'll lose light through the air - at 18" on this unit it won't matter though.

They are very bright, as you'd expect with 160w of LED. You will never need to worry about not enough light. On the contrary in fact... I guess at the substrate you'd get PAR 150+ in 90x45x45, which calls for monumental level of CO2 and nutrient management, and maintenance. Gary Nelson is...

Hi Conger, What model are they? 600? How high is the tank? 2 foot? How high above the water will the lamps be? Inside a hood near the water? Will you be injecting CO2? Yes? This is my advice based on my assumptions to my questions. 4 x 600 strips is approximately equivalent to 2 x 54w HO...

Hi mate I'm testing a Giesemann Futura 2 (Tropic) soon. If you can wait a couple if weeks I'll let you know how it goes and you're welcome to pop over and see it for yourself. I'll even make you a cup of tea. :)

Hi Murat and welcome to UKAPS. :) Yes, it's very capable of growing plants. My only concern is that they are very bright and have no dimming function - unless they've updated it recently. In your size tank you will need excellent CO2 levels and circulation, along with heavy planting, other...

What plants do you have? A new bulb and decent reflector may give you enough light. Have you been using the same light during DSM?

Wow! Please create a journal on this beauty. :) I don't think it's too symmetrical. It's a island composition and the position of the red balances nicely. Kudos.

BTW, do you have any pics to share? Would be great to see your tank with the light over it! :)

Ah, ok. In that case maybe try 40-50% and see how you go. A tall established high energy system like yours should be fine. :)

Be careful, as these are BRIGHT! I've seen one over a 60cm tank (36cm tall) and at full whack PAR was 200 at the substrate through water. I suggest running on 20% power initially, assuming you're injecting CO2. If not then even lower. Good luck with it!

Not sure mate. Could be the lenses. If you email TMC I sure they'll tell you.

Hi Phil, I've seen these in action at a couple of trade shows in recent years and they are definitely the best-looking light unit on the market IMO. Their colour rendition is also very good. I say get the 3s for a 60cm, and please let us know now you get on!

That's a really good point. I'm a bit embarrassed to say I've never used a grey card. But I can say these two shots, to my eyes, accurately reflect the colours I see in real time using the lights, even though the camera WB is the same.

Hi all, I thought I'd post two comparison photos showing the difference between the ADA Solar I metal halide with NA-Green bulb (150w, 8000K) and 2x TMC GroBeam 1500 Ultima (2x 30w, 6500K). ADA Solar I ADA Solar I by George Farmer, on Flickr TMC GroBeam 1500 Ultima TMC 1500 Ultima by...

I'd say that's moderate lighting, certainly not excessive over 125 litres, especially with good CO2 and circulation. Ian Holdich had a similar lighting configuration. Try contacting him. :)

Exactly, but... I've used the Radion and found the glitter lines too distracting due to the intense point source effect. It's marine-bias with more blue/royal blue LEDs too which most planted aquascapers wouldn't use so much.

I'm one of those people that claim that plants aren't fussy about spectrums. Sorry, I can't prove it through experimental data, but I can say I've probably tried over 50 types of lighting over the years with varying spectrums and can't say one is better than the other. This is why my lighting...

Brilliant. :)

Hi Bradley Be aware that the first batch of 1500 tiles make an audible high pitch 'hum' noise when less than 100% - but it's quieter than many fans supplied with other LED units. I contacted TMC about this and it's to do with the circuitry. I don't mind it with my two tiles, but it's something...

It seems feasible - certainly better than the watts per gal. guidelines that were originally drawn up with T12 fluorescents in mind. I think I did a similar table for a lighting article in PFK a while back. I think the biggest lesson I've learnt in recent years is that too much emphasis is...

These readings are all based on the PAR being measured submerged at the substrate level, so it's a measurement of the minimum light the plant is likely to receive. :) PAR drops off considerably more under water than air, given the same distance from the light source to the target.

Absolutely no disrespect to Clive but I'd be more inclined to go with these values. The PAR in my current tank is about 30-40 at the substrate and I'm seeing very fast growth. I dread to think how I'd manage with anything over 100. 150 is almost SPS coral territory.

I think it will grow aquarium plants very well but that will be a lot of light over a small area. You'll need to suspend well above the tank.

I wouldn't do it, personally. They're designed to be suspended above an open-top aquarium. There's the control buttons that you've mentioned plus the cooling fans. Also, it would be so near the water surface; the light spread wouldn't be effective or attractive.

$195 in the US. http://www.adgshop.com/product_p/108-069.htm If we compare other ADA product prices in the US compared with UK then I would be surprised and disappointed to see these priced much over £200 in the UK.

The LEDs will be more than capable. The original unit was and they're not going to go backwards. It has a cooling fan that suggests it's relatively powerful. I love the way it's future proof with interchangeable LEDs and even the case can be changed for a different colour to suit different...

http://www.adana.co.jp/en/sc/news/detail/699 Limited to 30cm and 36cm aquariums. And no doubt relatively expensive. And relatively low power. But it looks amazing and I want one.

Hi Ian They're low power LEDs. 96 x 54mW gives you around 5 watts. At best this will likely give you an equivalent light output (PAR) compared with an 11w PC T5. This is my estimation, based on experience with these types of LEDs (fitted to the 46 litre Fluval Edge). You probably won't want to...

Thanks, Johnny. Out of interest have you tested these for PAR? I'd be interested to see what you think to it. I found it a bit too "technicolour" for my taste. Because of the RGB LEDs in combination with the shimmer the plants didn't appear very natural in their colour rendition. I played...

Hi Johnny Thanks for providing this review. I think it's worth mentioning that you're in no way directly affiliated with Kessil! :) I look forward to trying these out for myself at some point. The colour rendition looks brilliant. Have you done much post-processing with the images, or are they...

Do you have one or two 25w T8? Do you have reflectors? You will be able to grow most species with 2 x T8 and reflectors but may struggle with some carpeting species. Most plants are fine in lower light, especially if they are fed well. If you have 1 x T8 then you're limited to species such...

PL is another term for power compact fluorescent. It's low-moderate lighting in your aquarium. Enough to grow most species, especially with decent nutrients.

Hi Dave The best way to backlight for your individual set-up is really through trial and error. T8 or T5 fluoresent with reflector across the length of the aquarium is popular. You can use the reflector to adjust the light hitting the back wall. How you attached the tube to the rear of the...

I say if you want more light then do it, but be prepared for the consequences i.e. higher CO2 and nutrient requirement, more maintenance, higher risk of algae. It can be a valuable learning experience and I understand the desire to try out new techniques. Probably the best way to increase...

Top advice from Mr Crawford there! :) You may also want to consider the 1500XG Ocean White 9000K tiles, as used by Aquajardin in their stunning display recently. Fantastic for greens and better penetration than the 1000ND. viewtopic.php?f=62&t=19994

I'm not surprised you're confused by those product descriptions. Consider this - http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs- ... 65-Philips

TMC are currently producing a comprehensive LED lighting guide with PAR values and other technical data included. It's certainly needed with their extensive range of units now available. I really like their AquaBeam 1500 Ocean White (9000K) - even crisper and better for greens.

I've tested the PAR on the 1000NDs myself and they're not as bright as the Arcadia, going by results from your good self. The big lighting review carried out by Levi Major for PFK in 2010 did not include the 1000ND units and was marine bias. I do prefer the spread on the 1000ND and find them...

Hi Ade, I think it's a matter of personal taste. Arcadia Eco-aqua LED 30w TMC AquaRay 1000ND LED 30w I prefer the aesthetics of my 1000ND units over the vast majority of light units on the market. I really like the almost industrial/minimalist look; I even prefer it over something like...

Only you can really answer that question. Some folk love the NA-Green. Others hate it. I've not used one myself but have seen in over a few tanks in the flesh. It's lovely for bringing out the greens, but for reds it's not so good IMO. Also, as a keen photographer that usually relies on...

ADA MH are definitely compatible in non-ADA units.

Exactly. This is explained in detail in the article.

As the author of that article allow me to explain. That specific tip was in reference to a recent experience regarding an aquarium makeover. The client had 4 x T8 fluorescents over their Juwel Trigon 350. I believe the Juwel ballasts are electronic, even the old T8 type. The bulbs were old...

Re: Lights and perertration. Hi and welcome to the forum! Lovely size tank you have! It's tough to say if that's enough light because we don't know what you want to grow, and what the other aspects to your set-up are i.e. will you be injecting CO2, what circulation will you have, what...

That's plenty of light. I'd start with running 2 lamps only. The OT2 units are very good. Just be careful with the plastic fittings as they are quite brittle.

Should be a nice mix with the Arcadia Plant Pro.

You're welcome. Merry Christmas!

Hi there, Different tubes types will have varying PAR levels but the difference is really not worth worrying about in the home aquarium environment. Tubes that are labelled "plant growth" tend to be rather pink/purple. These may have marginally higher photosynthetically usable radiation (PUR)...

Where's the 'fuss'? You shouldn't find much on here. Freshwater plants aren't really fussy. Most of us have known this for years. Just choose what suits taste and budget.

They may look bright but their PAR is very low, even right up near the LEDs. Through water it drops off to almost nothing. They're useful for aesthetics only, if you're into that sort of thing. No good for plants, like Radik suggests.

4 x 80w HO T5 should be ample.

I'll be using a couple of these soon for an aquascaping demo in Barcelona. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

Great post, Viktor. We discuss a lot of theory on UKAPS but to see evidence from practical results is welcome too. Fascinating spec. Nitrate and Phosphate removers, and dosing just trace. Low CO2 (2 BPS in >400 litres). And all with 8 x 54w T5 for 11 hours! Almost seems impossible if you...

I reckon it's possible - just don't fit reflectors and limit your photoperiod to about 6hrs or so. Floating plants may be a good idea too.

I forgot to add - the supplied Juwel lighting is ample to grow most plants - assuming it's a relatively new Juwel with T5 (the older types have T8). Fit reflectors though. Most new Juwel tanks have a 'unique' T5 lamp size. The Vision 180 is 35w, so you may need to shop around, unless you have...

Hi Shamrock and welcome to UKAPS! T8 is 1" T5 is 5/8" So the "T" refers to tenths of an inch. T12 used to be commonplace - so one and a half inch diameter. Generally speaking T5 produces more light more watt compared with T8 and T12. It's probably the most popular form of lighting for...

Hi Derek Try not to get too concerned about the watt per gallon rule. Glosso does demand more light than many other plants, but actually with decent carbon supplementation, nutrient dosing and circulation, it can be grown successfully in what probably used to be considered as moderate...

Fascinating comparison. Well done, Mark. I think the human eye makes automatic adjustments, so the contrast in terms of CR in the image vs. seeing them for real maybe larger in the image. From the image the NA is too warm/yellow, and the NAG is too cool/green and I wouldn't be happy with...

Nice find! What's the colour rendition like? At 4200K I'm guessing they're quite warm - probably great for enhancing reds.

You're welcome! I like The Waterzoo in Peterborough and Maidenhead Aquatics in Crowland. Neither are brilliant for the planted tank hobby but they generally stock a good selection of plants. Their fish and non-plant specialist dry goods are excellent. For most planted tank gear the...

What size aquarium is it, what wattage are your T8s, and what distance are they from the aquarium surface? Twin T8 is fine for a lot of plants, especially low-light tolerant species such as ferns, crypts, Anubias and moss.

Hi samboco and welcome to UKAPS! Wise words from foxfish there. 2 x 54w T5 with reflectors should be fine for your size aquarium. These are available to fit into a hood/canopy or overtank luminaire. The latter is generally more expensive, and usually supplied with 4 x T5, which is...

2 x T8 and decent reflectors will be able to grow most plants, especially with good nutrients. A 60cm with 2 x 18w T8 sounds ideal.

Me neither. The prices of the iAquatics LED unit will be interesting, like sanj says. Their T5 lamps are inexpensive, but a whole LED unit is a different ball game entirely...

Sounds interesting. The angled LEDs is very innovative. I've not seen that before. I like the look of the new TMC 1000 ColourPlus tiles too.

You could probably use the 2 x T8 with an 8hr photoperiod, assuming you're not growing demanding plants, especially at the substrate level where the light intensity will very low. I'd run that for around 4 weeks until your plants are established, then add more light if you want to speed up...

It looks lovely. If you're not getting algae and the plants are healthy then I'd stick with exactly what you're already doing, rather than changing anything.

Giessemann is superior quality and regarded as more reliable.

Re: Enough light for photosynthesis? I'm guessing you need more CO2 - 1 to 2 BPS sounds low for a 180 litre. Add this before considering more light, otherwise you'll get algae. Also consider more nutrients before adding more light. Being densely planted also makes a difference, as the plants...

Thanks for the kind offer, sanj. I usually borrow one from the PFK office. What brand and model is your PAR meter?

Hi Stu, That would be good to see. Jeremy Gay (PFK Editor) grew glosso nicely in an 80cm, but it was 30cm deep. I may try 3x TMC tiles over my 120x45x45cm soon (if I don't get sent away with the Libya conflict). Cheaper that 2x ADA Solar 1 units, and much much cheaper to run. Also...

Thanks, sanj. Not sure why they've not succeeded with the TMC tiles. They have good PAR and grow plants very well indeed when used appropriately. Colour rendition is an interesting topic. I am used to T5 fluorescents that really saturate the colours (I usually use a combination of Hagen...

No one can justifiably deny the effectiveness of TMC LEDs. The evidence from many planted tank owners now using them speaks for itself. This was taken recently. Note the pearling. I would be interested to hear what LED units they and their customers used, and in what configuration...

I don't think you'd notice considerable difference in growth or health but I'd invest in a timer for piece of mind when you may not be around the house at the appropriate time of day. I use the cheap types from supermarkets, but obviously they need resetting in the event of a powercut and when...

This is my point mate. You would assume that you lose more light through water like you suggest with your example. However, when I have tested PAR, I am losing more light, per unit distance, through air. So suspending the light source higher above the water makes more difference to PAR at the...

Welcome to UKAPS, Gustavo! Agreed. Going off topic slightly - One really interesting and surprising characteristic I noticed during my PAR testing is that PAR drops off more per cm in air than water. I always assumed water would block more light for any given length than air. Does anyone...

I've used 18w PC T5 over 10 litres without CO2 - only liquid carbon. 9w should be fine. LED would be a nice option too, but actually may have more effective light (PAR) than 9w fluorescent, depending on what unit you get...

I would improve CO2, nutrients and circulation and see how you go. If you're still seeing issues then you may need more light, but I doubt it. But definitely focus on CO2/nutrients/circulation before considering more light.

Hi Tony You may need six tiles to cover a 150x60cm footprint, with 60cm tank height @ 20cm from water. Another option is to supplement 4 GroBeam 1000 tiles with twin GroBeam 500, one at each end running front to rear, with the 1000 tiles in a square in the center. The hanging kits are very...

Do you mean this photo? This is Graeme Edward's aquascape and photo, with Dan Crawford's equipment. Dan made the support himself for the GroBeam.

They last 50,000hrs - about 10 years. They use 30w max each, so 60w is pretty good for a high-energy 180 litre tank. TMC do a hanging kit too. Hopefully your tank is positioned appropriately underneath a couple of roof joists so you can screw directly into them. I positioned the...

I agree with Graeme (great to see you on here pal!) :thumbup: 2 x TMC GroBeam 1000 ND LED tiles will be sufficient, mounted around 30cm above water surface. They have a very high PAR. Not as bright to our eye as 150w halide, but better for plant growth, so you'll need to play with the...

Try emailing them - http://www.arcadia-uk.info/form.php?mid ... d=8&lan=en

You may be able to squeeze 25w T8 in there. They're 75cm long. I used to balance 2 x 25w T8 on the centre brace in my old Juwel Rio 125. One tube in front and one behind the Juwel light bar. I'm not sure if the Rekord 800 has a centre brace though, and if there's enough room? And I take no...